U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Friday ordered the release of documents related to the case brought by some former students of Trump University, which was a series of seminars offering participants the chance to learn the businessman's real estate secrets. Those suing say they spent thousands of dollars, but promises of one-on-one meetings with Trump's "hand-picked" experts never materialized.

Trump counters that most students were satisfied and that the case should have been dismissed by the judge. Instead, Curiel has set a trial for November, after the presidential election.

Trump initially ripped Curiel during a rally in San Diego, where Curiel is based, saying he was biased against him and said Curiel "happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great. I think that's fine."

Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson defended her boss' remarks on Monday when Alisyn Camerota of CNN's "New Day" pointed out that the judge was born in the United States.

Curiel was a member of the La Raza Lawyers Association, Pierson said, adding, "This is an organization that has been out there organizing anti-Trump protesters with the Mexican flags — they are pushing it. The signs have been very apparent. And so Mr. Trump is just stating the obvious."

The protests are taking place under the guise of being anti-Trump, Pierson said, "with their Mexican flags, and La Raza and this judge is connected to that."